Muscat, Oman—Four members of a single family died yesterday evening when a violent flash flood swept their vehicles off a submerged mountain road running through a desert wadi.
Unprecedented rainfall across the upper mountain ranges triggered a wall of water that rushed down the dry riverbed without warning. Passing motorists attempted to cross the valley floor just as the torrent crested its banks.
Civil defense rescue teams deployed specialized all-terrain vehicles and air support to reach the isolated disaster zone. Swift-water rescue specialists worked through the night searching the turbulent channel.
The water descended from the heights like an express train, said civil defense director Nasser Al-Habsi. Drivers had mere seconds to react before their cars were completely engulfed.
Search parties recovered the submerged vehicles miles downstream wedged against massive boulders in the riverbed. Medical examiners confirmed all four occupants succumbed to drowning.
Local police checkpoints have been established across all major regional wadis to prevent motorists from attempting dangerous crossings. Meteorological agencies issued ongoing warnings for persistent heavy storms throughout the province.
Community leaders expressed grief as funeral arrangements were coordinated through local municipal offices. Emergency response units remain on high alert as weather models predict continued precipitation.
Heavy excavation equipment is being staged near vulnerable crossings to clear debris as water levels recede.
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